Bottle capping apparatus



Nov. 20, 1934.

s C. NAMUR BOTTLE CAPPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l J l 1 n Nov. 20, 1934. c; NAMUR BOTTLE CAPPING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26, 1931 z I 1 I I I 1 Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES BOTTLE CAPPING APPARATUS Carl Namur, Kenosha, Wis., assignor to Specialty Brass Company, Kenosha, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 26, 1931, Serial No. 511,373

Claims. (01. 226 -92) ther object is to provide capping apparatus in which the feeding mechanism occupies a minimum of space while at the same time serving caps accurately to the seating plunger. A further object is to provide a capping apparatus with a rotary feeding member which occupies a minimum amount of space and permits the apparatus to be used to cap bottles closely packed within a case without striking adjacent bottles. Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds. y

The invention is fully described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is another side view in elevation; Fig. 3 is a top plan view; Fig. 4 is a sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectional View, the section being taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a detail view of the screw-rod memvv ber shown more clearly in Fig. 6; and Fig. 8, a

sectional view, the section being takenas indicated at line 8 of Fig. 6.

In the illustration given, A indicates a casing member; B indicates a plunger slidably mounted in casing A; C indicates a handle connected to the upper end of plunger B; and D indicates a cap magazine.

The casing A comprises a main body portion 1 in which a spring supporting screw 2 is secured and a bottom portion 3 which provides a cap channel through which caps may be forced toward a bottle. Near its lower end, the casing is provided with a bell shaped portion 4 which affords on its inner side an annular shoulder 5 which is adapted to rest upon the top of abottle, such as for example,' a milk bottle. .If desired the casing may be apertured at 6 to permit the operator to see the operation within the casing and to provide access thereinto.

The plunger member B is shown in the'form I other light metal.

of a'hollow tube having an internally threaded portion at its lower end into which is screwed a plunger head 7. The supporting screw 2' extends through the plunger andthe walls of the plunger 2 are slotted at 8 to permit the tube to move past the screw. Carried by the screw member 2 is a spring seat 9 and resting upon seat 9 is a guide-post 10.. The helical spring 11extends about the post 10 and rests upon the spring seat member 9. At'its upper end, the spring 11 bears against a pin 12 which is fixedly secured to the wall of plunger B. The upper end of the plunger B is secured within the handle C.

Handle C may be formed in any suitable shape It is preferablyconstructed of aluminum or some The magazine D, which is adapted to receive caps or a tube containing caps, is preferably formed integrally with the casing A. The magazine is preferably of cylindrical shape having an open upper end and having an aperture 13 along its side. Below the magazine cylinder D and also formed integrally with the casing A is a shelf or floor member 14 adapted to support the lowermost cap carried in the magazine. Between the bottom of cylinder D and the shelf 14 is a slot 15 which is preferably slightly deeper than the thickness of a bottle cap. The slotway or space 15 communicates through the adjacent wall of casing A with an annular recess or slotway 16 in the channel provided in casing A. Through the slotway 15 and 16, a cap may travel from the magazine D into the main channel withincasing A. As shown more clearly in Fig. 3 floor 14vis provided with a curved opening or slot 17 adapted to receive a feeder shoe 18 which is actuated by rotary mechanism which will now be described.

Fixedly secured to the plunger B near its upper end is a collar 19 provided with an arm extension 20. The collar 19 is spaced from the handle C by a loose cylinder 21?. Fixedly secured to the arm extension 20 and depending therefrom is a screw arm 21, the lower end 22 of which is twisted or turned, as illustrated more clearly in Figs. 6 and 7.. The lower end 22 of the screw rod 21 extends into a tubular member 23 which is provided near its upper end with a'plurality of openings 24 in which are mounted ballbearings 25. The ballbearings are so positioned as to engage the turned or twisted end 22 of screw rod 21. The ballbearings 25 maybe adjusted so as to bear loosely or tightly against the lower end 22 of rod 21 by means of the cap 26 secured by nut 2'7 which is in threaded engagement with the upper end of the tubular member 23.

The tubular member 23 is rotatably mountedin loop arms 28 which are formed integrally with the casing A and cylinder D. On each side of the lower loop arm 28 are ballbearings supported within the races29. The upper race 29. issecured between the arm 28 and a collar 30' which is secured to the tubular member 23. The lower race 29 is held between the arm 28 and the end member 31. As shown more clearly in Fig. 6, the end member 31 is provided with a spring recess 32 in which is housed a spring 33 and the lower end of the spring rests upon the flange cap 34 which is threadedly connected to the inner wall of tubular member 23. The end member 31 is secured to the tubular member and against rotary movement by pin 35. *The' member 23', however, is provided with a vertical slotway adapted to receive pin 35 and this permits member 31 to be adjusted or movedtin averticalfplanebuti pre-. vents rotary movement about'the tubular. member2'3.

The end member31 issprovi'ded with an arm 36 upon which the'feed shoe 1'8 is integrally formed.v The feedzmember 1=8"is arcuatein shape/and is adapted to'traversexthelslotway 117 in the shelf or floor 14. Preferably, the feeding member 18' is supported slightly" above the floor: or shelf 14 and is'a'dapted'toengage aucap which lies within the slotway 15.

In the operation of the apparatus, the.-maga-; zine member D 1 is filled with bottle caps, the lowermost cap restingupon thefioor. 14 and within the slotway 15-. ,Ihe operator after having placed the hell 4 upon the top "of a;- bottle, depresses handleC. The p'lunger'as-it'moves down- Wardly carries with it the extension arm 20 and rod- 21. The twisted or turned end of rod 21 as it moves downwardly engages the ballbearings- 25- and rotates the tubular member 23.-The end member '31- which rotates with tubular member 23 causes the feedingmem'ber 18 to swing in a half circle-about the tubular member 23. The feed shoe 18 passes through the slotway l'land carries with it the 'cap'which is-supported by shelf 14 within slot 15'.'- -Slotway 17 which com-- municates with the interior of thechannel of casing A permits the feed arm 18 to carry the cap completely into the channel. By the time that the cap has been carried in the manner described into the main-channel in casing A, the head 7 of plunger B has almost reached the slotwa-y 16. Head 18 'then'eng-ages the cap. andcarries it downwardly into the seat providedbythe bottle. The lower shoulder of collar 19 meets the top of casing A and thus prevents the plunger'from going further. When the pressure on handleC is released, spring 11 raises the plunger B toits-elevatedposition; I

As'illustrated in Fig. 6, member 31 is urged by spring 33 against the lower race 29 and serves to maintain the feed arm .36 andshoe 18 at the, proper elevation andin alignment with slotways 17 and 15, irrespeotiveof the wear off the support ingv members, above. I

If desired, instead of placing the bottle; caps within theLcylinder D the caps may be carried in a cylindrical paper package in which theyare purchased and the cylinder itself may be placed in magazine D. To support the Iower'end of the cylinder package, afmetal ring 3'? maybe releasably secured to the ca'singby means of asci'ew38. To secure the upper edge of ring 37, a wire spring 39 may be secured within an annular groove=40.-

An opening 41 through the magazine D permits the removal of spring 39 by extending an instrument through the opening. If desired, the ring '39 may be removed and replaced by another ring having a supporting ledge at a'different elevation. With this arrangement caps of different shapes and types may be used. Removable. or interchangeable sleeves or rings may be used with the samecapper to enable the operator to use different kinds of caps.

While I have described a particular type of rotary mechanism for feeding the caps to the plunger, it isobvious that other forms of rotary magazine, and plunger construction may bemade without passing, beyond the scope-of my invention.

been described with reference to ahand-operated capper the same. principles of operation may be embodied in a machine which is not operated byhand. v v

The foregoing: detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art. V

Iclaimtfi I. In apparatus of the character set forth, a bottle cap magazine, a hollow casing member securedthereto and provided. with a channeling its lower endthreaded, a feeding arm slidably' mounted uponsaid rotary member and provided with a; shoulder, a cap threadedly engaging the lower end of said tubular member and affording spring retaining shoulders, aspring resting upon the shoulders of said cap and engaging the shoul-- d'ers .of' said feeding arm, and means associated with said plunger for actuating said rotary member.. l

2'. In apparatus of the character set forth, a-- bottle cap magazine, acasing formed integrally therewith, said magazine and casing being provided with communicating slot-ways through which a single cap may be passed fromthe-magazine into the casing, a plunger reciprocally 1 mounted in said casing, and rotary means for moving said caps from the magazine to the -casing, said rotary means comprising a tubular mem ber'rotatably mounted in a portion of said casing, a feed arm connected to the lower part of said tubular member, ball-bearings carried in the upper end of said tubular member, an actuating rodhaving a screw end journaled in said ball-bearings, and adjustable means for pressing said ballbearings against said twistedend.

3'. In apparatus of the character =set-forth, a bottle cap magazine, a: casing formed integrally therewith,.said magazine and easing being provided with a slot-way through which a cap may be passed from the magazine into the casing, a plunger reciprocally mounted insaid casing,=ro-

It is also apparent that, while the invention hasfiat" tary means for moving said caps from the magazine into the casing, said rotary means including a tubular member rotatably mounted in a portion of said casing, means associated with said plunger for rotating said tubular member, a feed arm connected to the lower part of said tubular member, a screw member threadedly engaging the bottom of said tubular member and providing a spring seat, and a spring carried by said seat and urging said feed arm in an upward direction.

4. In apparatus of the character set forth, a bottle cap magazine, a casing formed integrally therewith, said magazine and easing being provided with communicating slot-ways through which a single cap may be passed from the magazine into the casing, a plunger reciprocally mounted in said casing, rotary means for moving said caps from the magazine to the casing, said rotary means comprising a tubular member rotatably mounted in a portion of said casing, a

feed arm connected to the lower part of said tubular member, ball-bearings carried in the upper end of said tubular member, and an actuating rod associated with said plunger and having a twisted end journaled in said ball-bearings.

5. In apparatus of the character set forth, a bottle cap magazine, a casing formed integrally therewith, said magazine and casing being provided with communicating slot-ways through which a single cap may be passed from the magazine into the casing, a plunger reciprocally mounted in said casing, rotary means for moving said caps from the magazine to the casing, said means comprising a tubular member rotatably mounted in a portion of said casing and having ball-bearing openings in its upper portion, ball-bearings in said openings, a feed arm connected to the lower part of said tubular member, an adjustment nut threadedly engaging the upper end of said tubular member and providing a tapered lower end adapted to engage said ball-bearings and to urge them inwardly, and an actuating rod associated with said plunger and having a screw end journaled in said ball-bearings.

6. In apparatus of the character set forth, a bottle cap magazine, a casing formed integrally therewith, said magazine and casing being provided with communicating slot-ways through which a single cap may be passed from the magazine into the casing, a plunger reciprocally mounted in said casing, rotary means for moving said caps from the magazine to the casing, said rotary means comprising a tubular member rotatably mounted in a portion of said casing, a feed arm connected to the lower part of said tubular member, ball-bearings carried in the upper end of said tubular member, an actuating rod having a screw end journaled in said ball-bearings, and a laterally extending arm connecting said actuating rod to said plunger.

7. A bottle capper comprising a casing afiording a cap magazine and a cap channel with an intercommunicating aperture therebetween through which caps may pass into the channel, a plunger in said channel, a tubular member rotatably supported in vertical position by said casing and provided with two pairs of spaced ball bearings, an actuating blade extending between said pairs of bearings and having its lower extremity curved, means associated with said plunger for raising and lowering said blade, and a feed arm carried by said tubular member and adapted to feed caps from the magazine into the channel.

8. A bottle capper comprising a casing aifording a cap magazine and a cap channel with an intercommunicating aperture therebetween through which caps may pass into the channel, a plunger in said channel, a tubular member rotatably supported in vertical position by said casing and equipped with ball bearings, an actuating blade engaging said ball bearings and having its lower extremity curved, means associated with said plunger for raising and lowering said blade, and a feed arm carried by said tubular member and adapted to feed caps from the magazine into the channel.

9. A bottle capper comprising a casing providing a cap magazine and a cap channel with an intercommunicating aperture therebetween through which caps may pass into the channel, a plunger in said channel, a feed arm adapted to feed caps from the magazine into the channel, a pair of spaced arms integral with said casing and having aligned openings therethrough, a cylindrical member rotatably mounted in said arm openings, said cylindrical member being connected at its lower end to said feed arm, means fixed to said cylindrical member and engaging one of said arms for supporting said cylindrical member and maintaining said feed arm in alignment with said aperture, a drive arm secured to said plunger in substantially vertical alignment with said spaced casing arms, and cooperating means carried by said drive arm and the upper end of said cylindrical member for rotating said cylindrical member.

10. A bottle capper comprising a casing providing a cap magazine and a cap channel with an intercommunicating aperture therebetween through which caps may pass into the channel, a tubular plunger mounted in said channel and provided with diametrically opposed slots, a pin extending through said channel casing and through the slots of said plunger, a spring housed within said tubular plunger and seated against said pin, means associated with the upper part of said plunger providing a seat for the upper end of said spring, said pin cooperating with the slots of said plunger to limit the upward movement of said plunger, a drive arm secured to said 130 plunger, a feed arm adapted to feed caps from the magazine into the channel, brackets formed integrally with said casing and provided with aligned openings, a cylindrical member supported within said openings and connected at its low- 13.5 er end with said feed arm, and cooperating means carried by said drive arm and the upper end of said cylindrical member for rotating said cylindrical member. 

